Honey Garlic Chicken (Sticky!)

Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken breast that is crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside is my favorite weeknight dinner recipe.

I just love Asian recipes for dinner.

It gives me a feeling as if I am eating from outside, and you know how much I enjoy eating outdoors.

Similar to my another favorite quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe -

Best Stir-Fry Chicken and Veggies Chinese Style.

Try my favorite - Baked Teriyaki Salmon which is so juicy and flaky.

I often find myself confused between two things - sweet and savory.

I don't want anything too sweet neither do I want something that is too spicy!

I'm a Libra rising, I love balance. And, I want a balance of flavor in my food as well.

Catering to my special requirements, my Virgo mercury, helped me settle down with this crispy and sticky Honey Garlic Chicken that sits right between sweet and savory!

Easiest Honey Garlic Chicken

Sticky and easy Honey Garlic Chicken is made with a three ingredient honey garlic sauce, that I personally want to use it on everything that I make.

This recipe is truly versatile. You can use chicken breast or chicken thighs and its still going to be that dish that the family is gonna love.

But, you know how we Virgo Sun signs can be.

Chicken thighs has got "Fat" and Chicken Breast is "Pure Lean protein".

God, I just love that Dark Meat and that Fat!

But, I just had to go with Chicken breasts.

Maybe I'll make Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs in the slow cooker in the weekend when I'm allowed a cheat meal!

The Best Honey Garlic Chicken Marinade

I believe the best things are always the easiest things.

And, this is so true for this recipe too. You won't believe how easy this marinade actually is.

To make the marinade all you need is:

1. Honey - Of course, it's in the Name of the recipe
2. Garlic - Again, it's in the name itself.
3. Soy Sauce - Brings that Umami flavor to a Chinese dish.
4. Red Pepper Flakes - (optional) - brings out that heat in the dish.

To be honest, Garlic is my favorite part about that sauce. I just love that garlicky kick!

Ingredients for the best Friday night takeaway

• Chicken - I use boneless skinless chicken breast, as I find it more healthy than dark meat. Although chicken thighs are perfect someone who likes the juicy taste of chicken thighs.
• Canola Oil - you can use any of your favorite cooking oil. Although it's best to use oil with a high smoke point such as avocado oil or grapeseed oil so that it doesn't burn when you're cooking the chicken.
• Sesame Seeds & Green Onions - garnish your honey garlic chicken with the best ingredients for topping.

Chinese Honey Garlic Chicken

Fresh off the stove, this sticky, sweet, and delish Chicken dish which is crispy on the outside is the perfect recipe to get done in just 10-15 minutes.

To get that authentic Chinese taste the way you get in restaurants,

You just have to marinate the chicken in a mixture of cornstarch and egg whites.

This makes and keeps the chicken tender and moist. This process and this technique is called Velveting technique. A popular technique used in Chinese cuisines.

However, I find those steps too tedious so, I just simply coat my chicken with salt and freshly ground black pepper and just toss it in the skillet.

If you want you can coat your chicken with 2 egg whites and 1 tablespoon cornstarch.

How to Make Honey Garlic Chicken

Prepare the Sauce

1. Whisk the ingredients for the sauce and set it aside.

Cook Chicken

1. Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat and season chicken with salt and freshly crushed black pepper.
2. Add chicken (in batches if necessary) to the hot oil and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the chicken pieces are brown on the outside. Remove from heat and set aside.
3. Pour in the sauce and stir well to coat the chicken.
4. Reduce the heat and bring the sauce to a boil and allow the sauce to get thick or upto the consistency that you like.
5. Taste the seasoning and adjust salt and pepper if you find it necessary.
6. Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, and sliced green onions. Serve it over rice.

Flavorful Variations

I bet that these variations will enrich your sauce and make it more tasty!

1. Dredge the chicken - You can start with this step first where you dredge the chicken pieces in cornflour or cornstarch with egg whites, salt and pepper. Then you fry it in the oil with minced garlic.
2. Serve it over a bed of rice - Serve it over a bed of rice or noodles and you get to savor the flavor. It's a beautiful sticky chicken that gets even better if you happen to save some as leftover for the next day!
3. Substitute crushed red pepper flakes with sriracha - Sriracha is an excellent alternative to crushed red pepper flakes adding heat and more flavor to the dish.
4. Butter - You can't have a less satisfying recipe if there's butter. To make the sauce extra delicious add a tablespoon of unsalted butter.

Srirup's Tips and Tricks

This recipe is just fab. And, it's super easy. Follow these tips and tricks and make it nearly as good as the restaurant.

1. Cut your chicken pieces evenly. This ensures the chicken cooks through evenly and doesn't dried out, especially when using chicken breasts.
2. Cut through the sweetness of honey by squeezing in some lime juice and adding some heat with red pepper flakes.
3. Always cook chicken in batches and avoid overcrowding the pan. This will help in even cooking.
4. Simmer the sauce and make it thick so that your honey garlic chicken gets that sticky taste.

What to eat Honey Garlic Chicken with?

Enjoy your protein rich honey garlic chicken with broccoli and a bowl of white rice or brown rice. You can also use cauliflower rice as an alternative.

To make it extra satisfying, combine the sauce with the rice separately and then enjoy the chicken separately.

It tastes heavenly! (no one will tell you this)

What does honey do to chicken meat?

The natural enzymes in honey helps tenderizing the meat quickly. Especially when you are grilling or roasting the chicken meat.

But, make sure you use the best quality of honey for that ideal taste. A honey from local vendor would be the ideal choice.

How long does honey chicken last in the fridge?

Cooked Honey garlic chicken should be stored in the fridge as soon as it is back to room temperature.

And make sure you consume it within two to three days.

When you keep it in the fridge, do not forget to cover it tightly with a plastic wrap and transfer it to an airtight container.

More recipes:

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